2018_The United States’ International Religious Freedom Act 1998: The Perspective of Malaysian Law

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Format: General Document
_version_ 1860798168860459008
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collectionurl https://intelek.unisza.edu.my/intelek/pages/search.php?search=!collection3
copyright Copyright©PWB2025
country Malaysia
date 2018-10-14
format General Document
id 16270
institution UniSZA
originalfilename THE UNITED STATES’ INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT 1998_ THE PERSPECTIVE OF MALAYSIAN LAW (MASTER_2018).pdf
person Rabiatul Adawiyah binti Mohd Ariffin
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resourceurl https://intelek.unisza.edu.my/intelek/pages/view.php?ref=16270
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spelling 16270 https://intelek.unisza.edu.my/intelek/pages/view.php?ref=16270 https://intelek.unisza.edu.my/intelek/pages/search.php?search=!collection3 General Document Malaysia Library Staff (Top Management) Library Staff (Management) Library Staff (Support) Terengganu Faculty of Law & International Relations English application/pdf 1.5 Server storage Scanned document Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin UniSZA Private Access Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin SAMBox 2.3.4; modified using iTextSharp™ 5.5.10 ©2000-2016 iText Group NV (AGPL-version) 241 Copyright©PWB2025 Religious International Foreign relations THE UNITED STATES’ INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT 1998_ THE PERSPECTIVE OF MALAYSIAN LAW (MASTER_2018).pdf Rabiatul Adawiyah binti Mohd Ariffin Freedom Religious freedom Bilateral relations 2018_The United States’ International Religious Freedom Act 1998: The Perspective of Malaysian Law 2018-10-14 The International Religious Freedom Act 1998 (“IRFA”) was enacted to promote global religious freedom as part of the United States (US) foreign policy. IRFA requires the US State Department to report on the status of religious freedom in every country. The IRFA reports seem biased against several Muslim-majority countries which are listed as “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC). The reports have listed Malaysia as Tier 2 of CPC for not fully complying with IRFA standards. Thus, this research aims to examine religious freedom in three Muslim countries (Malaysia, Iran and Saudi Arabia) that are listed as CPC; the IRFA reports on Malaysia from year 2011 to 2016; and the scope of religious freedom under Malaysian law. This legal research adopted a qualitative research methodology where data were collected and analysed from primary and secondary sources which include IRFA provisions, Malaysian laws, decided cases, books and journal articles. The research shows those Muslims countries are designated as CPC mainly due to the issue of apostasy and actions to uphold Islam. Despite Malaysia is known as a peaceful and stable nation, the US designates Malaysia as one of the Tier 2 CPC. The research also shows significant issues being raised by the International Religious Freedom reports on Malaysia. Those issues include apostasy, unilateral conversion of minors, the word ‘Allah’, religious deviation and right of minority groups. The research also finds that Malaysia has its own legal framework to guarantee religious freedom and is committed in upholding religious freedom which forms a part of fundamental liberties in the Federal Constitution. The designation of Malaysia in Tier 2 CPC by the US may discredit Malaysian government. The embodiment of religious freedom in the Malaysian Constitution should be viewed as an adequate safeguard for such freedom in Malaysia. Dissertations, Academic Thesis
spellingShingle 2018_The United States’ International Religious Freedom Act 1998: The Perspective of Malaysian Law
state Terengganu
subject Foreign relations
Religious freedom
Bilateral relations
Dissertations, Academic
summary The International Religious Freedom Act 1998 (“IRFA”) was enacted to promote global religious freedom as part of the United States (US) foreign policy. IRFA requires the US State Department to report on the status of religious freedom in every country. The IRFA reports seem biased against several Muslim-majority countries which are listed as “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC). The reports have listed Malaysia as Tier 2 of CPC for not fully complying with IRFA standards. Thus, this research aims to examine religious freedom in three Muslim countries (Malaysia, Iran and Saudi Arabia) that are listed as CPC; the IRFA reports on Malaysia from year 2011 to 2016; and the scope of religious freedom under Malaysian law. This legal research adopted a qualitative research methodology where data were collected and analysed from primary and secondary sources which include IRFA provisions, Malaysian laws, decided cases, books and journal articles. The research shows those Muslims countries are designated as CPC mainly due to the issue of apostasy and actions to uphold Islam. Despite Malaysia is known as a peaceful and stable nation, the US designates Malaysia as one of the Tier 2 CPC. The research also shows significant issues being raised by the International Religious Freedom reports on Malaysia. Those issues include apostasy, unilateral conversion of minors, the word ‘Allah’, religious deviation and right of minority groups. The research also finds that Malaysia has its own legal framework to guarantee religious freedom and is committed in upholding religious freedom which forms a part of fundamental liberties in the Federal Constitution. The designation of Malaysia in Tier 2 CPC by the US may discredit Malaysian government. The embodiment of religious freedom in the Malaysian Constitution should be viewed as an adequate safeguard for such freedom in Malaysia.
title 2018_The United States’ International Religious Freedom Act 1998: The Perspective of Malaysian Law
title_full 2018_The United States’ International Religious Freedom Act 1998: The Perspective of Malaysian Law
title_fullStr 2018_The United States’ International Religious Freedom Act 1998: The Perspective of Malaysian Law
title_full_unstemmed 2018_The United States’ International Religious Freedom Act 1998: The Perspective of Malaysian Law
title_short 2018_The United States’ International Religious Freedom Act 1998: The Perspective of Malaysian Law
title_sort 2018_the united states’ international religious freedom act 1998: the perspective of malaysian law